Latin America plays an important role in Iberia’s sustainability strategy, as the airline is involved in two important climate and environmental projects in the region, one located on the Caribbean coast of Guatemala and the other in Ucayali, Peru.
The first of these, in Izabal (Guatemala), has as its main objectives to develop a network of ecotourism areas and ecological reserves by maintaining existing natural forests threatened by deforestation, while supporting the productive use of the land, making greater prevention of negative practices and helping the local population to develop.
This project involves the creation of more than 700 jobs, more than 30% of which are occupied by women, while more than 1,300 people in the area have already benefited from the arrival of health services. This project also helps to conserve 30 species of high-value fauna that will be protected. In terms of environmental footprint, it generates an average of 610,000 carbon credits each year.
The Nii Kaniti initiative in Ucayali (Peru) seeks to improve the livelihoods of thousands of families, particularly women, by generating additional income through forest management in the area, which is home to seven indigenous communities belonging to the Shipibo-Conibo and Catataibo ethnic groups, surrounded by an area of almost 120,000 hectares of tropical rainforest. This, through the conservation and protection of this area from deforestation with support for the development of local businesses, the implementation of appropriate land use and capacity building for resource management.
«Sustainability is transversal to Iberia’s entire corporate strategy, and a fundamental part of our efforts is to generate prosperity not only through the development of our operations, but also through employment, economic contribution and doing our bit to improve the quality of life of the community. This project is a clear example of that effort,» says Teresa Parejo, Iberia’s sustainability director.
